Switzerland’s Council of Cantons (the small chamber of parliament) voted on Monday in favour of a proposal to lift the ban imposed as part of sanctions against the Russian Federation on the provision of legal services to Russian citizens and companies in order to ensure compliance with the principles of the rule of law. The issue will now be put to a vote in the National Council (the large chamber of parliament), the SDA news agency reported.
According to their data, 34 deputies were in favor of lifting the ban, 10 were against. According to the author of the initiative, a deputy from the Centro party Beata RiederThis restriction has no legal basis and violates the principles of the rule of law, in particular the right to a fair trial. The agency says that the proposal will now be put to a vote in the National Council, TASS reports.
According to the SDA, the Swiss Federal Council (government) had previously opposed such a measure. Therefore, according to Social Democratic Party MP Carlo Sommaruga, such a measure would negatively affect Switzerland’s relations with the EU. Swiss Economy Minister Guy Parmelin from the SDP did not rule out further lifting of a number of sanctions against the Russian Federation if the ban on providing legal services to its citizens and companies is lifted.
Social Democrat MP Franziska Roth acknowledged that the ban violates the rule of law. At the same time, she recalled that the Belgian and French bar associations had already filed a corresponding complaint with the EU Court in Luxembourg and suggested waiting for the court’s decision, which is expected on 2 October, in order not to act against Brussels.
Switzerland, which is neither a member of NATO nor the EU, supports, despite its neutral status, the EU sanctions against Russia introduced in connection with its special military operation in Ukraine. In March 2022, the Russian government approved a list of foreign states and territories that committed hostile actions against the Russian Federation, its companies and citizens. Switzerland is included in this list.
